The Soldier's Details

Hayes aged 30 years re-inlisted on 1 Mar 1946 (WX500258) however was discharged 23 Dec 1946.

Norman Hayes enlisted AIF Sept 1940 and later joined ‘A’ Coy, 5 Platoon under command of Lt. Walton and Lt. Learmonth.

He was originally reported missing at Singapore however on 20 April 1943 news arrived he was a POW of Japanese.  As a POW in Singapore he had left with ‘D’ Force Thailand S Battalion to work on Burma-Thai Railway.

Towards end of 1943 the Japanese began moving the POWs from. Burma and Thailand into one of several large camps or hospitals.  Norm would have gone to Tamuang from where he was selected as being fit by the Japanese to work in Japan.  This group of men were entrained to Singapore to await a transport ship.  Please read the horror story of the men on ‘Rashin’ Maru to Japan.

Theirs was a 70 day journey on a rusty old junk ship.

He was first sent to Yamane and then Niihama mine in Japan from where he was recovered at the end of the war.

His parents Maurice Hayes and Phiippa Hutchens married Boulder 1908.

We know the Hayes family had taken up a Peel property – because there was notice for the 1926 funeral for their son Richard John unless  the notice is from Maurice Hayes (Jnr).

His mother Philippa Hayes resided at 24 Violet Grove, Shenton Park and Norman returned to live here initially.  We believe his parents married 1908 at Boulder.  His mother Philippa Hutchens was born Clare, South Australia 1877.

Maurice Hayes died Cottesloe 15 June 1931.

In 1958, 1963 Electoral Roll, Norm is living with his mother at Violet Grove, Shenton Park working as a labourer.

In 1977 Electoral Roll Norm is residing 18 Morgan Street, Shenton Park.

Philippa died 1965.

Norman Hayes died 4 Sep 2022 at Menora.